Potatoes are one of the main and traditional vegetables grown in Lithuania. They can be planted both for early and late harvest. Here is how and when it is best to plant potatoes in Lithuania:
Optimal planting time
Planting early potatoes: Early planting of potatoes in Lithuania usually starts at the end of April or beginning of May, as soon as the soil warms up enough (about +7°C and above) and dries up after the winter. This allows you to get an early harvest already in July.
Planting late potatoes: Late planting of potatoes is intended for autumn harvest. It can be done until the beginning of June. Late potatoes are better suited for long storage over the winter.
Preparation before planting
Potato "blinding": About 2-4 weeks before planting, the potatoes should be placed in a bright, warm place (at a temperature no higher than +15°C) so that they "go blind" - start sprouting. This encourages early and strong growth.
Soil preparation: The soil should be loosened and, if possible, supplemented with organic fertilizers such as compost.
Planting process
Depth and Distance: Plant potatoes about 10 cm deep, leaving about 60-70 cm between rows and 30-40 cm between potatoes in a row.
Planting scheme: It is best to plant potatoes with the "bulbs" facing up so that sprouting shoots can easily find their way to the surface.
Care after planting
Watering: In the early stages of growth, potatoes require quite a lot of moisture, so it is important to ensure that the soil is constantly slightly moist, but not soggy.
Herbing and rinsing: Remove weeds regularly and when the plants are established, do a flush - bury the soil around the plants to protect their roots and promote better yields.
Protection against pests and diseases: Watch for signs of potato insects or diseases and take appropriate protective measures in time.
Remember that weather conditions can vary from year to year, so it's important to monitor your local climate and possibly adjust planting times to suit existing conditions. Also, by rotating the growing areas of the plants every year, many disease and pest problems can be avoided.
